Visas and Green Cards
Many people confuse the difference between a visa and a green card. A visa allows a person to come into the country. A green card allows a person to stay long term. Most importantly, visas and green cards are essential tools for immigrants to bring their families together. However, immigration law is complex and very detailed. Make sure you are working with a lawyer who has experience in this area of law, who will understand how important it is to you to bring your family together.
When you come inside the office of Familia America Immigration ~ Gloria Cardenas, and meet our family, you will see that we care deeply about helping our clients bring their families together. We treat our clients like family, because we understand what they are going through and, like family, we want to help.
Family Visas · Bringing Your Family Together
A visa is a document that allows people to come into the country. Immigrant visas are for people intending to stay long term, and most immigrant visa holders are planning on obtaining a green card and, ultimately full United States citizenship. A family visa needs to "sponsor" a foreign national coming into the county. There are numerous different types of family visas, based on whether the sponsor is a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident (LPR).
Family Visas for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
If you are a U.S. citizen, you could be eligible to sponsor the following immediate relatives for their visas:
- Spouse (IR-1)
- Unmarried children under 21 years old (IR-2), unmarried sons and daughters and their children (F-1)
- Orphan adopted abroad (IR-3) or adopted in the United States (IR-4)
- Parent (IR-5)
Family Visas for Legal Permanent Residents
If you are a green card holder, you can petition for visas for spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters age 21 and over (F-2).
There are other visa options available, as well. Contact us to talk about your immigration needs. Our Salt Lake City family visa attorneys are here to help you.
Green Cards · Keeping Your Family Together
After entering into the country on a visa, acquiring a green card is the next step required to stay in the country permanently. Although there is still the chance of deportation and removal by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), generally, the holder of a green card can stay in the country indefinitely.
Ogden Green Card Attorney
Call 801-990-1512 in Utah, 877-415-9604 toll free, or contact us online.
